Defending champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne held off the challenge
from Jason O'Halloran to top the opening free practice session of
the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship weekend at
Snetterton by 0.129s.

O'Halloran arrives at the Norfolk circuit after setting the pace
at the recent official test and he got the opening practice
underway by heading the top of the times in the early stages.
However Byrne is determined to have a winning return and he moved
ahead in the closing ten minutes of the session.

Championship leader Luke Mossey fired himself into third
position on the leading JG Speedfit Kawasaki as his team-mate Leon
Haslam returned from injury and was just pushed outside the top ten
into eleventh in the final moments.

It was an impressive start for Billy McConnell on the Quattro
Plant FS-3 Kawasaki as the Australian held fourth place, just ahead
of fellow countryman Josh Brookes who completed the top five for
the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha team.

John Hopkins was narrowly pushed outside the top six on the Moto
Rapido Ducati as he held off Peter Hickman and Dan Linfoot. Jakub
Smrz and James Ellison on the McAMS Yamaha completed the top
ten.

After being declared fit, the MCE BSB Medical team supervised
Christian Iddon's final preparations for FP1 together and concluded
with the team that it was evident that his recent deep wound and
skin graft was particularly vulnerable to aggravation in racing
leathers. Rather than an exploratory first session the team has
taken the decision to give the full support and track time to its
fully fit riders and give the best chance of a weekend points haul
to protect Iddon's championship position and Josh Elliott will
replace him alongside Andy Reid.